On September 10, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the Flight 93 National Memorial, the September 11 th National Memorial Trail Alliance will cut the ribbon on a 21-mile segment of the 9/11 Trail.

The cycling and walking on-road route will extend from the Flight 93 National Memorial to the Great Allegheny Passage at Garrett, Pennsylvania, also passing through the historic boroughs of Shanksville and Berlin. This route completes the connection from the Pentagon to Flight 93 via C&amp;O Canal Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage. This section is part of the larger 1,300-mile multi-state September 11 th National Memorial Trail connecting the three 9/11 memorials: the National September 11 Memorial &amp; Museum in New York City; the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia; and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

The ribbon cutting is the result of partnerships with Somerset County, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the National Park Service, and CSX Corporation. The project has been endorsed by members of Congress and the Pennsylvania executive and legislative branches.

“This trail means so much to our region, and it is a great example of what can be accomplished when we work together,” said Congressman Bill Shuster. “The 9/11 Memorial Trail is something that will be truly special to our nation as it will forever link Shanksville to New York City and Washington, DC. I was proud to be a part of helping this project in order to further honor and remember our heroes lost on that fateful day 15 years ago.”

David Brickley, President of the September 11 th National Memorial Trail Alliance said,

“This is a major milestone as we honor those heroes of September 11, 2001 by building a national trail connecting the three memorial sites. The strong support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been truly outstanding.” Flight 93 National Memorial Deputy Superintendent Keith Newlin noted, “This dedication is a compliment to the volunteers who initiated the trail concept. The trail will provide many Americans another method to pay tribute to the passengers and crew members of Flight 93. The connection to the other sites is important to allow visitors to understand the attacks and heroism shown at the Pentagon and World Trade Center on 9/11.”

Immediately after the ribbon cutting a number of the participants will bicycle the route starting at Flight 93 National Memorial continuing along through Shanksville and Berlin to the Great Allegheny Passage trailhead at Garrett, PA. This will provide an on-the-route examination to determine where route changes or improvements should be considered. The ride is to commemorate current planning to eventually develop a significant section of this 21-mile route as a multiuse off-road trail due to the generous donation of an abandoned railroad corridor owned by CSX Corporation. This strategic connection from the Flight 93 National Memorial will provide an historic and enjoyable cycling and hiking route not only to the Pentagon Memorial and Mount Vernon in Virginia, but also follow the Great Allegheny Passage north to Pittsburgh, PA.

Partners, support and funding for this segment of the September 11 th National Memorial Trail include: Somerset County, PA., the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the National Park Service, CSX Corporation, Brothers Valley Township, Stonycreek Township, boroughs of Berlin, Garrett and Shanksville, the Allegheny Trail Alliance, the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, and Dominion Resources.

The September 11 th National Memorial Trail Alliance was particularly pleased that development funding of $400,000 to Somerset County from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation through the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) received the support of a number of members of Congress including Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey from Pennsylvania and Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner from Virginia; and Congressmen Bill Shuster from Pennsylvania and Gerry Connolly from Virginia.

About Us

The September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance was formed in 2004 for the sole purpose of establishing a memorial trail that will link the planned and existing memorial sites at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and the Flight 93 National Memorial.